Ratchet binding device for multiple sheets of paper
Patent 5320456 Issued on June 14, 1994. Estimated Expiration Date: 
November 23, 2013. Estimated Expiration Date is calculated based on simple USPTO term provisions. It does not account for terminal disclaimers, term adjustments, failure to pay maintenance fees, or other factors which might affect the term of a patent.
November 23, 2013. Estimated Expiration Date is calculated based on simple USPTO term provisions. It does not account for terminal disclaimers, term adjustments, failure to pay maintenance fees, or other factors which might affect the term of a patent.Patent References 795611 885648 2779987 3507601 3612709 Support device for a binder system Desk pad Devices for holding sheets Prong type stacked paper fastener Bundling device Patent #: 5226360 InventorApplicationNo. 156444 filed on 11/23/1993US Classes:402/64, Keeper including wedge type securing means402/60, SHEET RETAINER WITH RELEASABLE KEEPER (E.G., HOLD DOWN, ETC.)402/68Keeper including apertured or recessed sheet retainer receiving componentExaminersPrimary: Rosenbaum, MarkAssistant: Fridie, Willmon Jr. Attorney, Agent or FirmInternational ClassB42F 003/00DescriptionBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention is directed generally toward an apparatus for binding multiple sheets of paper, and more particularly, to a ratchet mechanism to bind paper without punching holes in the paper. 2. Description of the Related Art Considerable effort has been expended toward devices for quickly and easily binding together sheets of paper. Most of them do not focus on ways to improve the binding device so that less effort is required to bind the paper. Most of the prior art devices require that holes be punched in the paper, with the result that considerable time and effort must be used to modify the paper for binding. This requires that a device for punching the paper must be available and used before the paper can be bound. U.S. Pat. No. 4,579,472 to Andrews discloses a modified two-hole clamping arrangement for holding sheets of paper. The folding arms are threaded through apertures in the main body of the binding device and then through holes in the paper. A top lid folds over and clamps the arms in place. The lid engages the main body by means of a snap action over a detent. U.S. Pat. No. 4,529,226 to Weinman concerns a desk pad comprising a one-piece molded body portion for supporting a writing pad of paper. The Weinman apparatus requires fastening means such as screws or bolts which must pass through holes formed in the margin of the writing pad. The pad is perforated along the margin so that pre-cut portions of a sheet can be torn off as a note slip. U.S. Pat. No. 3,612,709 to Miyamoto shows a loose-leaf binder clamping device having at least two posts which fit into opposing sockets. A plastic hinge joins the two main parts, where one part houses the pins and the other part houses the sockets. Again, the paper must be equipped with holes to receive the sockets. Earlier advancements in the art also required that the paper to be bound be punched or in some way modified before being bound in a mechanism. Rice U.S. Pat. No. 885,648 discloses a binder having studs projecting upwardly through sheets to be bound and U.S. Pat. No. 795,611 to Hestmark discloses a bookbinder requiring notches be made in the sheets. Other examples of devices for quickly binding sheets of paper together are shown in Purcocks U.S. Pat. No. 4,453,850 and in Smith U.S. Pat. No. 3,507,601. Although, binding devices which do not require hole punching are known in the art, there are disadvantages associated with them. Such binding systems can be found in a common office supply catalogue. For example the "GBC 1-Step Binding System" employs adhesives and the "Dennison 1st Impression Desktop Bindery" uses thermal technology to bind sheets of paper. These systems are intended to be permanent so it is not possible to remove the sheets without damaging them. A disadvantage of using adhesives is that all sheets must have their edges aligned together to contact an adhesive layer. This is extremely difficult to do without expensive aligning machinery. A disadvantage of either system is the requirement to use effectuating, enabling apparatus which takes up valuable space, needs a source of power, and is not readily portable, such as, in the user's briefcase. Many so called "punchless" systems employ a spring tension clip similar to those employed on common clipboards. These systems are intended for temporary use and easily damage the paper by excessive spring forces applied over a very small area. Other so-called "punchless" binding systems are marketed as report covers. For example, the "Duraclip No-Punch Report Cover" is essentially bound by the force applied by a single sliding clip mechanism on the side of the binder. Such binding systems are limited to relatively small numbers of paper sheets (typically, about 50) and require a complete cover assembly which increases costs. Another example is represented by the "K&M Slide Lock" report covers which employ a plastic binding bar that slides over a report cover and papers to be bound. Prior art mechanical binding devices generally have certain drawbacks. Either the paper must be punched or the mechanisms are relatively complex, or both. Some require the use of adhesives, heat or tape, among others. They may be relatively expensive to make or be made from expensive materials, such as metal. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Broadly speaking, the invention concerns a simple, inexpensive ratchet-type binding device for loose sheets of paper. The ratchet binding device of the invention includes a base member comprising an elongated bar of L-shaped cross section with integral end plates, and a mating clamping member or keeper which is a slotted plate with an internally extending tongue. The back wall inside surface of the base member has a series of parallel, elongated saw-tooth ribs or grooves forming teeth with which the tongue engages in a ratchet-like manner. Alternatively, the grooves may be spaced in a staggered arrangement vertically to increase the number of teeth and thereby increase the degree of adaptability to the thickness changes due to a few sheets, more or less, of paper. The device may also include additional teeth on an outer face of the back wall of the base member for engagement with a back edge section of the keeper. Further, the device may include slots extending through the end plates. A finger extending from the tongue of the keeper has notches on an underside to engage a lower edge of the slots in the end plates, further increasing the binding force on the sheets. The binding device is of simple geometry and may be composed of only one material, which preferably is plastic. The device requires no punching of the paper and can bind a large number of sheets. No application of heat or adhesives are needed. The device can bind paper without any additional component or machinery. Thus the device is inexpensive to use and make, and has the additional advantages of being portable and self-contained. Further, if it is a desired to remove the sheets of paper from the binding device, the latter can be destroyed, leaving the unaffected sheets of paper in their original, pristine condition. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING The objects, advantages and features of the present invention will be more clearly understood by reference to the following detailed disclosure when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which: FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the base member of a preferred embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 2 is a top view of the base member of FIG. 1; FIG. 3 is a top view of the clamping member of the present invention; FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along cutting plane 4--4 of FIG. 3; FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing the base member having teeth on an inner face in operative engagement with the clamping member and a multiplicity of sheets of paper; FIG. 6 is a partial side view of the base member with alternating or staggered teeth; FIG. 7 is a sectional view showing the base member having teeth on both an inner face and on an outer face in operative engagement with the clamping member; FIG. 8 is a side view of an end plate of the base member with a longitudinal slot through the plate; FIG. 9 is a top view of a partial section of the clamping member with a finger attached to the tongue extending through the slot in one end plate; and FIG. 10 is a sectional view taken along cutting plane 10--10 of FIG. 9 showing a finger protruding from the tongue and engaging a lower edge of the slot through one end plate. FIG. 11 shows the assembled present invention hanging in a file holder frame. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, base member 10 is an elongated bar of L-shaped cross section having integral end plates 14. The base member has a vertical back wall 11 formed with closely spaced grooves or ratchet teeth 13 on inner surface 25. Bottom wall 12 is disposed orthogonally to back wall 11 and to each of end plates 14. The end plates are symmetrically arranged and serve to stiffen the base member. Base member 10, in a preferred embodiment, is dimensioned lengthwise according to the size of the paper to be bound. Accordingly, if standard 81/2"×11" letter size sheets are to be bound, the base member would be dimensioned slightly more than 11" in length in order to accommodate side binding. Of course, it should be evident to those skilled in the art that larger or smaller sheets could be accommodated by merely changing the length of the base member. It should also be evident that sheets could be bound at the top rather than at the side. Preferably, base member 10 is an integral element requiring that only one material be used. In a preferred embodiment the base member is made of a high strength malleable plastic such as extruded vinyl. The one piece construction of the base member using a non-metallic material has the advantage of reducing cost in manufacturing. Moreover, the geometry is simple and therefore easy to mold, further reducing costs. Clamping member or keeper 20 is shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. The keeper is a one piece design with elongated longitudinal slot 15 and connecting short end slots 16 extending through the entire thickness of the body. Slot 15 is disposed lengthwise along a longitudinal axis of the keeper. End slots 16 are each disposed perpendicular to slot 15, with slot 15 extending between each of the end slots. The keeper is slightly longer than base member 10 such that slot 15 and end slots 16 are capable of slideably receiving back wall 11 and end plates 14, respectively, of the base member. Top edge 21 of back wall 11 and top edges 23 of end plates 14 extend into and through the respective mating slots in keeper 20. Tongue 17 of keeper 20 results from the formation of slot 15 and end slots 16. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, tongue 17 extends approximately 3/4 the length of end slots 16, giving it somewhat of a cantilevered configuration. Due to its cantilevered configuration, the tongue will elastically deform slightly when a downward load is applied on the keeper. Thus, tongue 17 is capable of engaging at least one tooth of ratchet teeth 13 when a downward load is applied on the keeper. Preferably, keeper 20 is also a single body piece design requiring that only one material be used. In a preferred embodiment the keeper is made of a high strength malleable plastic such as extruded vinyl. The one piece construction of the keeper using a non-metallic material has the advantage of reducing cost in manufacturing. Moreover, the geometry is simple and therefore easy to mold, further reducing costs. FIG. 5 shows a cross sectional side view of binding device 30 formed by slideably engaging base member 10 and keeper 20. In operation, a sheaf of papers 40 is placed on top of bottom wall 12 and against inner face 25 of back wall 11. Inner face 25 has closely spaced parallel grooves forming ratchet teeth 13. The keeper is then fitted over top edge 21 of back wall 11 and top edges 23 of end plates 14. A downward pressing force on the keeper causes tongue 17 to firmly engage ratchet teeth 13 as shown in FIG. 5. Note that the edge of tongue 17 may be beveled to make the edge sharper for more positive engagement with the teeth. An important advantage of the ratchet operation of the present invention is that there is no need to punch holes in the paper in order to accomplish the binding. Thus, costs are saved using binding device 30. Additionally, since the keeper and the base member are small the device has the further advantage of being portable and self contained and is easily applied when and where needed. No further component of machinery is necessary to bind paper with device 30. The binding action of tongue 17 can serve to bind the papers permanently because the ratchet operation provides for a very strong and stable device. However, should there be a need to re-bind the sheets (for example to add sheets that were inadvertently left out) the binding device may be removed and the sheets bound again. Although device 30 would likely be destroyed and need to be replaced in that instance, due to its composition of simple geometry and low cost materials, it is inexpensive to replace. The invention's operative advantage stems from a ratcheting action when keeper 20 and base member 10 are mated. The resultant binding forces produced by the mating depend on having the interval of the ratcheting frequent enough to accommodate the thickness of incremental sheets of paper. Preferably, this is accomplished by the above described mating process of the preferred embodiment. However, it may also be accomplished by either of the following alternative preferred embodiments. Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, two alternative preferred embodiments are shown. One of the alternative preferred embodiments, shown in FIG. 6, includes base member 35 having inner face 26 formed with teeth 31, 32 in laterally spaced groups, staggered in a vertical direction. This staggering increases the engaging opportunities between tongue 17 and teeth 31 since it effectively increases the number of teeth, even though the spacing of the teeth in each group is the same as in the spacing in the FIG. 1 embodiment. Another alternative preferred embodiment, shown in FIG. 7, includes base member 36 having exterior teeth 29 on exterior face 27, and in addition teeth 37 on inner face 38 are spaced in regular continuous intervals, unchanged from the first preferred embodiment. Exterior teeth 29 may be engaged by rear bar 18 of the keeper to further ensure that paper sheets 40 remain bound. The rear bar is spaced from and parallel to tongue 17 by longitudinal slot 15 and extends between ends 19 of the keeper. A third alternative preferred embodiment is shown in FIGS. 8-10. Referring to FIG. 8, base member 50 has end plates 44 with a thick cross sectional area sufficient to be structurally sound when slot 22 is cut through them. Referring to FIG. 9, keeper 34 has a finger 24 protruding substantially perpendicular to tongue 47, and adapted to fit through slot 22. FIG. 10 shows the finger with notches or teeth 28 on upper edge 45 of the slot. For fine adjustment, the finger can be drawn through the slot and pulled outward and downward allowing the paper to be held in the binding device with additional compressive force. FIG. 11 shows that any of the above described embodiments of device 30 may also include a "Pendaflex" type hook 32 to enable a user to hang a bound document in a "Pendaflex" type file holder frame 33. A hook may be formed on or attached to each end of either base member 10 or keeper 20. Thus the device possesses the advantage of being low in cost and portable, yet may be used as part of a permanent filing system. Accordingly, a ratchet binding device for multiple sheets of paper has been described. While various embodiments have been disclosed, it should be apparent that many variations and alternative embodiments could occur to those skilled in the art in view of the teachings herein. It is understood, therefore, that the invention is not to be in any way limited except in accordance with the spirit of the appended claims and their equivalents. * * * * * Field of SearchSHEET RETAINER INCLUDING SHEET GUIDE MEANSSEGMENTAL SHEET RETAINER With keeper SHEET RETAINER WITH RELEASABLE KEEPER (E.G., HOLD DOWN, ETC.) Keeper cooperating with retainer of varying cross-section Apertured retainer Notched or grooved retainer (e.g., screw threaded, etc.) Keeper including wedge type securing means Keeper including apertured or recessed sheet retainer receiving component |
